Page 47

"Baby, let's just get out of here." Archer's low husky voice tickled my ear as he leaned down.

He rubbed the tension in my shoulders as I rested my back against his chest. Teela had latched her claws into our group and followed us everywhere.

The other boys had funnelled away eventually, but I was ecstatic to see that Cole stuck around and had engaged in a deep conversation with Madeline.

Watching the two of them stare intently while the other spoke was almost heart-warming enough to distract me from Teela.

Almost.

"No, we are not going anywhere," I said firmly.

I was not about to be run out of a party filled with my friends because of a girl that technically wasn't even doing anything wrong.

Sure, her passive aggressive fake-kindness was rubbing me like sandpaper.

Not to mention, she was very focused on being buddy-buddy with Archer.

Overall though, she just seemed drunk and silly. I tried not to take it too personally.

Archer grabbed my waist and spun me in his arms. My neck heated up when his hands ventured low on my spine, resting at the curve of my bum.

He dropped his face down and hovered his lips a breath away from mine.

His deep eyes pulled me into a trance as the party around us slowly slipped away.

He rocked his hips slowly in time with the music and I melted against him, suddenly desperate to be alone.

"Don't worry, this is how they usually act," Madeline assured someone while she tugged on my sleeve and cleared her throat. I pulled back from Archer and whacked him on the shoulder when he mumbled profanities under his breath.

"We're going to go out on the back porch and play games, you two in?" Madeline gave me those 'best friend eyes' that clearly communicated she needed my support. I readily agreed and hooked my finger through Archer's belt loop to tug him along.

My ears rang in the cool night air as it was much quieter out here.

Madeline and Cole both grabbed chairs that had been pushed into a loose circle.

Tyler, James, Teela, Quinn, and Holly filled the others with a few people I didn't know.

Archer fell into the last one available and pulled me onto his lap, taking a moment to smooth my skirt down and cover my exposed thigh with his hand.

"Okay, let's play Never Have I Ever!" Teela wagged her eyebrows at everyone and pulled a bottle of tequila out from behind her. "If you haven't done something you take a shot!"

I immediately wanted to escape and sighed in relief when Holly spoke up. "Chill out Tee, we all have drinks already we can take."

Teela rolled her eyes but didn't challenge Holly. "Whatever you say, Cap," she said with a sugary smile.

James leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "I thought you were supposed to drink if you have done something?"

"That's how we normally play, but I figured Charlotte wouldn't be happy if Archer got wasted." Teela shot me a wink as though she were doing me a favour. Archer stiffened underneath of me so I rubbed his thigh to let him know it was fine.

"Alright, I'll go first!" Tyler raised his drink enthusiastically. "I've never... Uhm. Okay, actually I need a minute someone else go."

"I've never left the US!" Holly supplied an easy one. A couple of other people casually took sips of their drinks.

The game started out easy while most people thought of clean things that they'd never done.

"Never have I ever skydived."

"Never have I ever been in a fistfight."

"Never have I ever failed a class."

By the second round, Tyler made it dirty when he proudly stated that he'd never gotten an STD.

Everyone raised their glasses in a communal cheer as we all took large gulps.

From that point on people got more comfortable throwing out sexual things they'd never done.

Of course, since the rules had been swapped, I ended up taking a lot of drinks.

They were only the tiniest baby sips—but I still felt it.

My cheeks warmed as the alcohol seeped into my system. The airy feeling in my brain helped to keep the embarrassment at bay every time I had to drink. Archer and I had been exploring each other's interests and limits for a few months now, but this game made me realize how much I hadn't done.

"Never have I ever had sex in public."

"Never have I ever used toys in bed."

"Never have I ever used handcuffs during sex."

Frustration rose inside of me every time it was Teela's turn.

She made a big show of looking around the circle as though she held everyone's secrets, then she'd simper at Archer before saying something she'd never done.

I couldn't help but notice that he rarely had to take drinks.

It didn't bother me that Archer had a sexual past. I believed him when he said he would have waited for me if he'd known.

I could never have predicted where life would take us, how was it fair to expect more from him?

What did bother me was that Teela seemed to be targeting him. Whether she wanted to make him look bad, or upset me, it was riling me up. The alcohol warming my veins made me want to snap at her but I tried to resist and have fun.

"I've never had sex," Madeline said bashfully from behind her cup.

Cole smiled at her with slightly rosy cheeks and I physically had to stop myself from flipping out.

I turned around so only Archer could see my face and crumpled into a silent, "Awwww!

" Archer shook his head with a small smile and squeezed my thigh.

"Well, at least we finally found something Charlotte's done!" Teela giggled from behind me. "I was starting to feel sorry for you Arch."

Archer and I both tensed and I pleaded with my eyes for him to calm down. I turned around slowly and saw several apprehensive faces. Holly seemed to recover the fastest as she shot a glare at Teela.

"What the fuck? Maybe you should slow down on the tequila, girl."

James leaned forward and gave Teela a disgusted look. "I don't think it's the alcohol making her shitty."

"Oh come on! I was just kidding!" Teela laughed. "I think it's adorable how innocent you are, Charlotte. It's just a little crazy that Archer Johnson of all people would be satisfied with vanilla."

"Thank you so much for your concern," I smiled sweetly at her before anyone else could defend me. "I can assure you my boyfriend is happier now than he's ever been."

"Damn fucking straight." Archer sat forward and wrapped his arms tightly around my stomach as he dropped his chin on my shoulder.

Teela's face froze with her fake toothy smile, but her eyes were cold and locked on me.

"Happy to hear it. I really hope it lasts too.

The player I used to know was anything but vanilla.

In fact, I think it's my turn guys! I've never had a threesome.

" Her lips puckered into a bashful grimace as she giggled, "Whoops!

Never mind I forgot... thank God we don't have to drink, Archer. "

It was so quiet, we would have all jumped at a pin dropping.

The vibrations of music inside pulsed through the silence, adding more suspense to the air.

Everyone stared at Archer and me to see how we would respond.

Anger ripped through me when Archer stayed quiet.

Whether it was from shame, embarrassment, or shock, I didn't care.

I hopped off his lap and smiled brightly at Teela. Her perfect grin finally faltered as she clearly wasn't expecting that.

"Okay, Teela! Go for it!" I said encouragingly as I brandished my arms towards Archer. "Come on, do your thing! Kiss him, pour your heart out, whatever."

Teela scrunched up her face at me as though I was crazy and looked around the group for answers.

"What?" I continued. "Isn't this what you want?

I mean, you obviously can't seem to let go of your infatuation with Archer.

So shoot your shot, girl. I am a sucker for unrequited love and trust me—I know how painful it can be to pine after him.

C'mon, give it your best try. Steal him away, you seemed confident you could do it. "

I raised my brows expectantly at her, smiling encouragingly as I gestured to Archer. She glared at me and scoffed towards everyone who was silently spectating. I'm not sure if she was expecting support, but all she got back were blank stares and the occasional smirk.

"You're a fucking psycho." She glared at me.

"Not at all. I'm just 100% confident in my relationship. Why haven't you tried anything yet? I'm giving you the red freaking carpet here. Because you know, just like I know, that Archer doesn't want you—so maybe you should stop embarrassing yourself."

I couldn't help but smirk as Tyler yelled, "Burn!

" and James burst into laughter, clapping his hands loudly.

Teela sputtered and grappled for a response but finally, she seemed to realize there was no snarking her way out of this one.

She stood up quickly and flicked her hair over her shoulder then raced inside.

The magnitude of the scene I'd just caused hit me as the door slammed shut. Dear lord that was the rudest and most dramatic I think I have ever been. My face heated up as my eyes widened into circles. I turned slowly towards Archer and grimaced in embarrassment.

He reached out and grabbed my hand, yanking me back into his lap.

"I don't know what just came over you," he mumbled against my neck, "but that was fucking sexy.

" As if to prove his point, he adjusted my legs on his lap until I felt a bulge pressed against me.

He chuckled when I sucked in a breath and dropped my face on his shoulder.

I wanted to crawl into a corner and hide.

"Charlotte don't you dare!" Madeline laughed from behind us. "That girl was horrible to you, she deserved it."

"Wait what did Teela do? I mean besides being an intolerable bitch tonight," Holly chimed in.

I pulled my face out from the shield of Archer's shoulder and cringed at everyone. "It doesn't matter I shouldn't have done that."

"Yes, you should have," Madeline assured me. "After how she jumped on you at the football game?"

"Wait what football game? What did she say?" Archer puffed up protectively and tightened his arms around me.

"I don't remember exactly, she was trying to get in my head about you. But it didn't work, plus we weren't even together yet."

"Well, shit. I'm glad you put her in her place then." Holly laughed.

"I didn't think you had it in you." Tyler stumbled over and hugged me, it was awkward though as Archer didn't let me go far.

"Okay let's just move on," I pressed the palms of my hands into my eyes, hoping to push away the lingering embarrassment.

We all decided to go back inside after that and get more drinks.

Archer walked in front of me to block the crowd as we rejoined the party.

From our place in front of the bar, I could see Emmett still mostly naked as he danced with a girl.

I giggled watching him expertly two-stepped her around the grinding couples.

Archer passed me a water bottle since I was already well on my way to being drunk and I gratefully chugged it back. Madeline rushed over to me and gripped my arm tightly, her usual calm demeanour was scattered and frazzled.

"Charlotte I don't know what to do!" She whisper-shouted.

"What happened?" I rubbed her arm trying to soothe the frantic glint in her eye.

"Cole is like... too perfect. There is no way he's real! I feel like this is some sick joke and I'm about to get pig's blood dumped on me."

My nose scrunched on its own accord at the imagery that invoked. "Mads come on! You are a freaking catch! Any guy would be lucky to get your attention."

Madeline tapped her long nail against her lip as she anxiously looked over my shoulder. "I don't know. I've never felt this unsure before."

"Well, maybe it's a good thing!" I laughed. "Maybe you've finally met your match."

Madeline smiled and her eyes softened. "We really have been having amazing conversations all night. I don't think I've ever met someone who can discuss politics for as long as I can. He asked me to go for a walk with him since it's hard to talk in here. Do you think I should?"

I nodded my head enthusiastically as I resisted the urge to shake my invisible maracas in excitement. "Yes! Just be safe, stick to the university roads and don't go down any dark corners. And keep your phone on you."

"Okay Mom," Madeline giggled.

We hugged tightly then she pushed back through the crowd to where Cole was waiting. I melted when his eyes brightened as he greeted her and held out his arm to guide her to the door.

Archer had tuned out of the girl talk and had his back to me while he spoke to someone in front of the bar.

I pressed my face into his hard back and wrapped my arms around his stomach.

I smiled when his large hands smothered mine and rubbed gently.

I couldn't hear anything over the music but I stayed like that for a while, feeling relaxed by the rise and fall of his breaths under my fingers.

Eventually, my arms got tired and dropped lower to his abdomen, resting on the top of his belt.

Archer tensed beneath my touch and his hand over mine tightened.

From my place tucked behind him, I felt much more protected.

That mixed with my buzz emboldened me. I massaged gently into his thin shirt, keeping my movements small so they would hopefully stay hidden beneath his hands.

Every once in awhile I would let my finger swipe beneath his belt before returning to a more appropriate area.

Archer allowed my teasing for a few minutes before his hold on my hands prevented me from moving anymore. He turned around slowly and backed me up against the wall. His fists caged me in as he dropped his head to meet my gaze.

"You little tease," he smirked. His face was so close to mine I could see his pupil dilate as he stared at me through hooded eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I tried to keep my eyes wide and innocent but my body naturally wanted to mold to his.

"Hmmm, I don't believe it for a second," Archer said lowly into my ear. His teeth nipped at my earlobe making me suck in a breath. "You know I could barely focus on what I was saying to James because of you. I sounded like a fucking idiot mumbling."

I giggled with pride that I was able to fluster him. I arched away from the wall, placing my hips against his own. His jaw ticked as he looked over his shoulder and I could tell he was trying to control himself.

"You really think you could win this game against me, Sweetheart?" He asked with a playful grin.

I knew teasing Archer was playing with fire. He was a master at winding me up to my breaking point with small touches and dirty words. On multiple occasions, he'd had me whimpering and begging in a matter of minutes. But I'd been picking up a few skills myself, not to mention more confidence.

"I'm not playing any games." The flirtatious lilt in my voice contradicted my words. I tilted my chin so my lips brushed Archer's for only a second then pulled away. "But if I were, you better bet I'd win."

I took advantage of Archer's momentarily dazed expression and slipped out from under his arm.

The others had long since left our corner of the house and gone back into the open area where the party raged on.

I beelined through the crowd to where I could see the boys holding court.

Without looking back, I already knew Archer wasn't far behind.

James threw up his arms in greeting when I finally popped out in front of them.

I gratefully accepted the hand Emmett offered me and was pulled through the crowd to slide between them.

I hoped that my flushed body would be chalked up to alcohol and the large crowd, rather than the anticipation of what Archer would do next.

The devil himself broke through the crowd seconds later and shot me a glare. I fell farther between James and Emmett as though their shoulders could protect me. I turned away as though I were listening to the other's conversations, but I was fully focused on the man staring at me.

I casually cupped my hand to my neck, kneading softly for a moment. Stretching my jaw to release tension, I let my hand drop slowly to my collarbone. My fingers caught the edge of my shirt for the briefest of moments and I knew Archer got a small glimpse of my rounded breast.

When I finally allowed myself to look back at Archer, his darks eyes were still locked on me. He reached up and pulled his hat off his head to run his fingers through his waves. It took every ounce of self-control not to go to him. The jerk knew how much I loved playing with his hair.

My tongue darted out across my bottom lip when he readjusted his hat back on his head. He turned away from me and rubbed his hand across his jaw, making my mouth water.

I jumped when Emmett dropped his head lower to talk into my ear. "Smalls, why do you look like you want to eat Archer's face?"

I grimaced with shame and looked up at him apologetically. "Because I do." My eyes flicked over to Archer and I scowled when I saw his shoulders shaking. He knew I'd been caught.

Emmett laughed loudly and patted my back in sympathy. "Go get your man girl," he said smugly and whacked my back a little too hard, sending me stumbling forward.

Archer's large arms caught me before I could make a huge fool of myself. The second his fingers met the bare skin of my ribs, I was over this game. My hand went to his chest as we both made heated eye contact.

Without another word spoken we both turned to push through the crowd, aiming for the stairs to the bedrooms. Archer's arm came around me and pulled me to his side to get through everyone quicker.

There were a few random party-goers using the staircase as a quiet corner to make out, so I averted my eyes as Archer pushed me forward. The third floor of the house was empty and as soon as we were in the hallway Archer spun and pinned me to the wall.

His lips found mine in a rushed and messy kiss. The stubble on his jaw scratched my chin as our tongues tangled together. Archer smacked my butt and I knew he wanted me to jump. He caught my thighs easily when I did and straightened his spine to charge towards his room.

I ran kisses down his jaw to his neck. Archer groaned when I nipped at his skin, immediately soothing it with my lips. When we got into the bedroom I expected him to throw me on the bed, but instead, he pressed my back against the door and dropped his hand under my skirt to hold me up by my bottom.

I dug my nails into Archer's shoulders as he used his hand and hips to keep me up. I was slightly afraid of being dropped but I lost track of any fear when his free hand went to my panties. He didn't waste any time pushing them to the side and pressing his two fingers against my core.

"Fuck," he breathed when he felt how aroused I was. I whimpered when he pulled his fingers away but my whole body zinged at the sound of his belt snapping open. Archer fumbled with his zipper for a moment as the hand on my bum tightened, keeping me securely against the door.

The feeling of his erection pushing against my entrance made me dig my nails harder into Archer's shoulders. Just as I thought he was going to push forward, sending us both closer to that beautiful peak, he stopped.

"I won," he growled.

I opened my eyes to stare back at him and considered folding for the sake of a greater win.

Instead, I smirked lightly and tightened my legs around him.

The motion brought our hips closer together and his manhood pushed into my core.

Archer's face went slack with ecstasy as my walls tightened around him.

"I won," I countered.

Both of Archer's hands gripped my bum tightly as his chest heaved in front of my face. He finished what I'd started, sliding himself fully into me. A moan slipped from my throat as his pubic bone pressed against my clit.

I wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or the foreplay downstairs but everything felt so much more intense. We both stayed still for a moment, relishing in the feeling of me wrapped around him.

"Fuck baby," Archer groaned. His eyes flashed open and the fear in them startled me. "Fuck. Condom." With a pained expression, he pulled his hips away slightly. I held tightly to his shoulders and rocked my hips forward. "Baby," he chastised in a tight voice, "I need to get a condom."

"No." My voice sounded like it belonged more to an animal than a human. "Archer you feel so good," I begged. "Please. I've been on the pill for a month now."

That was all the permission he needed as he pushed me harder into the door. I threw my head against the wood as Archer's hips ground into me. Small beads of sweat wept from his furrowed brow as he dropped it to my forehead. His movements against me became more rapid as he picked up speed.

The feeling of Archer inside of me was always overwhelming.

But the sensation of his manhood bare within my core unleashed a soul-sucking level of pleasure.

I was rocked between Archer's hard body and the door that vibrated from the music downstairs.

Our heavy pants filled the room like smoke while we mumbled and struggled to articulate how good we felt.

I moaned Archer's name as he shifted his hips, hitting a new angle within me. My abdomen tightened as I dug my nails deeper in his shoulders. My inner walls tightened around Archer as he thrust against me hard, his face a mask of concentration and euphoria.

My body arced as I rose to the edge of pleasure, the peak of sensation that any human being could possibly handle.

In the shortest moment that my body hovered there, I lost all control.

Sighs and moans wrapped around Archer's name as they fell from my lips.

My head lolled on my neck before finding Archer's mouth just as I was sent over the edge.

Neither of us had the ability to kiss, we could only pant into each other's mouths as my orgasm ripped through me.

My hips rocked against Archer on their own volition as waves of pleasure washed over me. I could feel his own climax hit him as he tensed inside of me. The pulse of his bare skin against mine prolonged both of our orgasms as we road them out clinging to each other.

Archer slumped against me pressing his face to my neck. His skin was sticky and wet with exertion but I greedily held him as close as I could. My pulse thudded heavily in my chest and kept perfect time with his.

After a moment of recovery, he pulled back and gently let me down on the ground. I swayed as my jello-legs tried to hold up my own weight again. Archer held my waist and pressed a firm kiss to my lips, allowing me a moment to recover.

"That was..." My brain was fuzzy as I tried to string words together.

"Amazing." He finished for me. He stepped away and stripped off his clothes that hung raggedly from his body. "But I do think we should get the morning after pill tomorrow."

My body sang with appreciation as I pulled off my sticky clothes and walked to Archer's closet to grab a tee shirt.

Now that the moment had passed, guilt spread in my chest over what we'd done.

What I'd done. I gulped and reminded myself that the doctor had told me the birth control would work best after a month.

Even still, I nodded in agreement then slipped into the bathroom to clean myself up.

When I came back into the bathroom Archer was already in bed.

He'd put on some boxers that peeked out from the sheets that draped over his waist. A bright smile pulled at his lips as I scurried over and jumped onto the mattress next to him.

He laughed gently when I did my usual nighttime routine; plopping around until I got myself into the most comfortable position.

He kissed my hair once I'd settled against his chest with my feet nestled under his knee. I was almost asleep when his husky voice broke through the silence.

"Will you live with me next year?"

I blinked repeatedly, assuming I'd heard him wrong. I lifted my head so I could see his face. "How drunk are you?"

Archer gave me an amused grin. "I mean, I was getting there but all of that physical activity sobered me up."

"So these aren't the ramblings of a drunk lunatic?" I asked through narrowed eyes.

Archer pulled me back down as rubbed my shoulder until I relaxed against him. "Look just think about it okay? You don't have to answer now. I'm just going to be so busy with football, it'd be nice to have this every night."